Consulting With The Tunnel. 4th October

Murrys Winding Hole to opposite Tescos………

Two years ago we crossed the Pennines from east to west via the Rochdale Canal with Clare and Graeme on NB Mr Blue Sky. Last year we crossed via the Leeds Liverpool visiting friends and family in Skipton and Leeds. Earlier this year we dodged the hills by taking the route south via the River Trent. There is one other route which we have only done once before, six years ago, the Huddersfield Narrow and Broad Canals.

Recently all routes have had their problems. Lock floors, stuck boats, lack of water etc etc. The Huddersfield Narrow has problems with water levels towards Huddersfield on a good year, but this year those problems have been greater. Then over the last month the bottom end of the Huddersfield Broad Canal has been found to be empty on several occasions.

The C&RT stoppage notices that come from this area are far more informative than you normally get, they explain what has happened and what measures are being taken to rectify the situation. However what we wanted to know was, was the situation going to improve or would Oleanna be stuck in Huddersfield all winter if we went that way.

I think we’re going to see a lot of the chap on the right

The amount of work needed to reach the summit, the tunnel passage and then working down the other side is more for those who like a challenge than those who prefer a life on the flat with a glass of wine in hand. Before we committed to this route we wanted to talk to someone on the ground with local knowledge. For the last week Mick has been trying to call Standedge Tunnel Control to speak to someone, but with no luck. Today however was different he got through.

This year the canal has suffered more from the lack of water as one of the reservoirs has been drawn down for inspection and maintenance (several others on the system have also been lowered). But the rain we are having has been doing a good job of filling the canal up. The chap sounded positive, which is what we wanted to hear. Decision made before we’d even got out of bed this morning. Huddersfield Narrow it is!

About a month ago we’d booked our passage through Standedge Tunnel and our cruising has been planned for us to reach Diggle portal the day before. We have also booked a ranger to assist for a day on our descent from Marsden, then you also have to book for Lock 1E to be unlocked to let you out the bottom and into Huddersfield.

Time to get moving!

A boat came past, possibly the boat that had followed us down Marple yesterday, at speed. They then met a Black Prince hire boat at the next bridge, we just waited for both boats to pass before untying. The Black Prince boat might just arrive in time to start the flight before midday.

They’ll need warp drive to reach the locks in time!

Soon after pushing off ourselves we were approaching a big bend when the bow of another Black Prince boat came charging round it. Thankfully it seemed that the person at the helm had some experience as we narrowly avoided a collision. If they could keep their speed up we reckoned they would miss the locks by about ten minutes! Not good if you are trying to the Cheshire ring in a week!

We pootled along at a reasonable speed through the long winding wooded valley. A chap was blowing leaves off his astro turf. Maybe it’s best to keep on top of such things, but what a never ending job!

Under the M67. Was this the face of a local graffiti artist on the wall here? Was this going to be the local ‘Ghost’? It was, we were to see plenty more pupilless faces today.

We caught the boat ahead of us up at Duckingfield Lift Bridge. Here you need an anti-vandal key, or handcuff key to get the lock off the mechanism and they hadn’t got one. The chap was tinkering with the lock as the lady knocked on a boat to see if they could help. We pulled in for me to hop off just as they got the lock unlocked. At least it saved me doing all the winding, but I did make sure it was locked back up once it was down again.

Mick asked them which way they were going. ‘To Ancotes’ was the reply. He pointed out that they would need a handcuff key for the locks. But the lady said they wouldn’t be doing the locks today. They’d still need a handcuff key no matter what day they were doing them.

They turned left at the junction, we turned right onto new waters for Oleanna and Tilly. Under the Asda Tunnel and out passing moored boats and three flying ducks.

Then on towards Bridge 111, the first of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, just below 1W Ashton Lock, the first lock of the canal.

Broken even with the price tag still on it!

Now six years ago we’d just bought ourselves a long reach aluminium windlass. I was nursing my lack of little finger so was at the helm, off went Mick to set the lock. He soon returned with the brand new windlass in two pieces! The advantage of the longer reach no longer available he struggled with a standard windlass. A while later we replaced the broken aluminium windlass with a long reach one made from steel, now my best friend.

Today it would be me working the locks and 1W made itself known quickly. The lock was full so I went to empty it. The towpath side paddle being extremely stiff took some work. A couple of clicks, then adjusting the position of the windlass to give me more umph! Eventually it raised. I then tried the off side, this just slipped every half turn, so I left it closed. The gates were stubborn too, one side with a cranked beam. If this was to be the case at every lock we were going to be working hard for the next few days!

Plantation and Tame Lock were much easier. Hills just in view ahead and old mills alongside the canal.

The River Tame aqueduct took me by surprise, I nearly had to do a Giles as I’m not too keen on having nothing on one side of the boat!

Now we cruised through overgrownness on both sides approaching Stalybridge. Railings and lamp posts hide in amongst the sideways trees. At one time someone thought the canal would be a popular place to walk, it is but only on one side, the other left to grow over and collect rubbish.

The canal was built over 17 years, originally opening in 1811 Standedge Tunnel being the last stretch to open. For a while the canal was profitable being a shorter route connecting Manchester to Leeds than the Rochdale, but bottlenecks were created at the tunnel where it took four hours to leg a boat through! In 1845 the canal was bought by the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway Company who’s route was to follow the canal up the Tame and Colne Valleys. Standedge Tunnel was used to remove the spoil when they built the railway tunnel. Once the railway was open there was no need for the canal which fell into decline and ended up closing in 1944.

In 1974 the Huddersfield Canal Society was formed with the aim of re-opening the canal. Whole sections of the cut had been filled in, built over and several bridges had been removed. Volunteers with the support of local councils worked hard and by the 1990’s all sections that had not been filled in were restored. The Huddersfield Canal Company was set up to co-ordinate the reopening of the remaining sections, one of them being a half mile through Stalybridge which had been filled in and partly built over. But in May 2001 the canal was reopened. Plenty photos of the building work here.

Lock 4W is more or less where the major works in Stalybridge started. A whole new lock was built with it’s approach under a road. I’d remembered this and the railings which meant dropping crew off to work the lock had to be done at the start of the tunnel/bridge.

The bottom gates were problematical to close. In fact after pushing and bumping the gates there was still a six inch gap between them. We tried adding water pressure to the equation, but all that was going to do was deplete the pound above. The paddles were closed, gates reopened, Mick tried prodding around with a boat hook but the water was too deep. The gates closed a touch better and water pressure did the rest of the job for us, up the 11ft 1″ Oleanna rose, the pound above looking a bit short on water.

I walked ahead and dropped the water from 5W which aided our need to get over the cill. Mick decided to leave the ground paddles open until Oleanna was safely across the cill, this would help water move around her should I have needed to let more water down. Once clear of the gate he then dropped the paddles. As on quite a few of the Huddersfield Canal Locks both ground paddle mechanisms are on the same side as the gate beam, handy as there are no walkways over the top gates.

We had a similar problem at 5W with the gates closing. An extra nudge and water help again. Now we could see the Civic Hall and the hills behind as we made our way through the new cut to 6W.

Up at lock level there is masses of paving everywhere, a municipal feel to the town centre, all revamped when the canal came back through town. Once exciting I’m sure, but now it feels just a touch soulless. An art installation sits near the lock, Holy Trinity and Christ Church a little behind it. Then once up through Lock 6W Tescos takes over, car park on both sides of the canal. We pulled in where another boat was moored right opposite the checkouts. The chap on NB Texas Star had a very pretty dog and he was trying his best to get a coat of paint on the back of his cabin just as it started to really rain.

After a late lunch we put together a big shopping list, enough supplies to get us into Yorkshire. This must be the closest we’ve ever moored to somewhere you can leave your trolley and get your £ coin back. The only problem is the railings between the car park and boat. I passed the shopping through and Mick popped them on the boat. It was then either a walk round for me or a scramble through the railings.

This afternoon we’ve had the following through from C&RT

Huddersfield Narrow Canal – Water management information
Starts At: Lock 1 East, Stanley Dawson Lock
Ends At: Standedge Tunnel

Monday 4 October 2021 14:30 until further notice

With the support of the EA, during the 2021 boating season we installed a temporary river pump at Britannia bridge, in Milnsbridge, abstracting water from the River Colne into the Huddersfield Narrow canal to aid continued navigation on the canal. We have unfortunately been unsuccessful in gaining an extension on this abstraction from the EA which we had hoped would continue until the end of the 2021 boating season, so as of 30^th Sept 2021 we have ceased abstraction for this year.

The canal is currently looking healthy and we are relying on supply from our reservoirs, natural feeds and of course wet weather to maintain water supply, with the recent rainfall proving beneficial. The local team will continue to do their best to manage water levels in order to support safe navigation and if we are faced with the need to implement restrictions or closures, we will update the notice accordingly.

At least the rain is doing some good to the east of the Pennines, here it has stopped us from heading out for an explore, instead we stayed by the stove keeping dry and warm. Outside it was someone’s birthday, maybe they were having a car park party! Thankfully they quietened down after a while leaving us with the car park lights and the very raucous Canada Geese!

Today we have learnt something that we’ll never forget. Did you know that a Moorhens skin type is fur ?! No we didn’t either until we were checking what juvenile Moorhens looked like. Check this link if you don’t believe me!

6 locks, 61ft 3″ climbed, 5.89 miles, 1 lift bridge, 1 boat held up, 1 right, 2 canals, 1 Asda tunnel, 6 furry Moorhens, 1 pretty woofer, 6437 giant spiders, 1 car park mooring, 1 box, 2 bottles wine, 1 trolley almost to the boat, 1 very damp evening, 0 shore leave.

So our route today

Murrys Winding Hole to opposite Tescos, Stalybumbridge, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

https://goo.gl/maps/7urH5f7JMhsms2NQA

Wotsit! And A Missed Decision, 3rd October

Marple Junction to Murrys Winding Hole, Lower Peak Forest Canal

A chilly morning, mainly due to letting the stove go out so that Morag could sleep on the sofabed last night. The stove is a touch too close for duvets in the middle of the night! The central heating soon took the edge off.

After breakfast it was time to say goodbye to Morag, she was heading off to see her son who is studying at Manchester University and it’s his birthday tomorrow. It was so lovely to have her to stay and have a proper time for a catch up.

The covers were rolled back, waterproof trousers put on, we were ready. Two volunteers were by the top of the Marple flight. One chap, Rob, had been there at 8:30 to unlock the locks, he’d had a long wait for his first boat, us, at just gone 11.

The other chap, who’s name I didn’t catch, walked on down the flight, topping up locks where needed and opening the top gates. This meant my steps for the day wouldn’t include going backwards and forwards between locks.

We soon got into a rhythm. Rob closed the gate behind Oleanna, I walked to the offside and lifted a paddle, then Rob would lift the towpath side. Occasionally we swapped sides.

Many of the bottom gates overhang the narrow bridge below, so the gates tend to be easier to push from down there, but only if you are tall enough! I thankfully am just within the useful height range.

There was plenty of water coming round the bywashes, most probably because most of the locks were already full, so any water we were adding went straight round.

Rain came and went, sunshine did the same but for shorter periods. The weather hadn’t discouraged walkers up the flight. By Lock 13 two lads were eating snacks on the steps, then they rushed through the boatman’s tunnel to the bottom of the lock as Oleanna came out. I took the more convoluted route down steps to the horse tunnel under the main road.

The lock that was rebuilt a few years ago is now weathering in, the new dry stone wall alongside the towpath now the only clue to the works that went on to rebuild the bulging lock sides.

With Lock 9 being open ready and waiting for us we dropped lock 10, the level in the intermediate pound rising almost to the top of the lower lock. Rob spotted that the overflow there was blocked, not helping on a pound that can easily overfill. Here we were surrounded by numerous eager gongoozlers all over hanging the lock sides and keen to help push gates.

At Lock 8 Rob headed off down the flight, it was 11:50 and time to go and lock the gates on the bottom lock at midday. So we were left to work the next few locks on our own, no hardship.

A young lad ran up to see what was happening, obviously wanting to help but a touch too shy to ask. He was very quickly recruited and despite his height disadvantage he was able to open and close the gate from the lock top, with me reminding him to keep an eye on where he was putting his feet as the edge of the stonework got closer and closer.

Lock 7’s top gate was closed but had a paddle raised for us. The level looked equal, but obviously not quite! No matter how much I pushed and bumped and pushed it just wasn’t going to shift. Where were all those keen helpers now!! Nowhere to be seen. I tried to be patient, but it simply wasn’t going to help, the lock had reached a point where the same amount of water was leaking out through the bottom gates as was coming in at the top. Eventually a dog walker was recruited to help, that extra bit of force making all the difference.

Rob and the other volunteer reappeared at Lock 5. They’d had a ping on the whatsap group for the locks and another boat had just started down the flight ten minutes before it was due to be locked. Rob stayed with us as the other fella walked back towards the top.

Rob was a very chatty chap. You could tell he’d not been volunteering long as he’s not fully realised just how loud you have to shout across a lock as it empties or fills. He started in May, his enthusiasm for gaining knowledge about the locks is commendable. Originally from Whitley Bay he used to walk the beaches there, but recently he’d found himself in Manchester walking the canals, so he managed to volunteer and here he is. Apparently last year there were four volunteers on the flight on Sundays, but this year it started off with just one, him, the old volunteers having gone elsewhere.

At Lock 1 he suggested I climb onboard and he’d work the lock, the gates needing to be unlocked and locked again. We thanked him as Oleanna dropped in the lock, the noise from the pissers from the lock walls taking over.

Now across the aqueduct, no chance of doing a Giles today, there were photos needing to be taken especially as the sun had come out, now we’d finished the locks!

Up ahead a boat was coming towards us, they’d missed the locks, but turned out to only be a day boat anyway. They were soon followed by a second day boat near Hyde Bank Tunnel where we pulled into the side to let a third boat through. This was a charity boat that would also wind once it had crossed the aqueduct.

This is when we realised that we’d forgotten something! Today at the top of the flight we were going to make our minds up as to which route we’d be taking across the Pennines. With lock closures and lack of water around the north our choices have been fluctuating almost daily and we’d obviously rather not get stuck. Maybe we’d allow ourselves another day before our final decision had to be made!

We carried on, pulling in on a length of armco before Bridge 9, the rain starting in earnest again, just as Tilly went off to explore. In one lull between showers Mick made use of the new chimney brush. The wire handle a touch shorter than the old one. Maybe we can fix the two handles together adding another 9 inches to it’s length. Once the chimney was swept the stove was lit. The temperature inside also rose with the assistance of the oven being on for a roast chicken.

16 locks, 208ft 9″, 4.33 miles, 2 tunnels, 1 left, 1 wave goodbye, 1 enthusiastic Rob, 1 very wet flight, 3 boats on the move, 4 hours shore leave, 1 happy cat, 9 more inches needed, 1 cheesy wotsit on the cratch.

https://goo.gl/maps/TkHziQadccoZqkZt8

A New Sweep. 2nd October

Marple

A few weeks ago we’d received some alternative sausages with our Sainbsury’s order, they should have been pork and apple but instead we got chicken. We’ve not had chicken sausages before, turkey yes, but not chicken. Last night I’d taken half the packet out of the freezer to defrost. They were a little bit stubborn to get any colour and weren’t the same as a good pork sausage, but were okay in a buttie with ketchup.

First boat to come past us this morning was NB Ellis. We opened the hatch and Mick said hello, but as we’ve never met Mark properly and he was lining up for Bridge 1 he was otherwise engaged. Ellis is a Hotel Boat, but more relaxed and informal than most hotel boats, it’s more of a ‘live-aboard narrowboat experience‘. This mornings topics on the Geraghty Zoom included Bingo songs, Years and Years and sling backs in Hull.

Despite the wet weather Mick headed off on the bike to find Harrods. Harrods is a motor factors shop in Marple and is a good place to stock up on oil, filters and anti freeze. It used to be just down the hill from Church Lane Bridge 2, but thankfully we’d checked before he headed that way as the old shop is now a fish restaurant.

They are now situated in an industrial unit behind Goyt Mill, where they have more space. Mick picked up oil for the next engine service and some antifreeze.

An old Godber show on in a couple of weeks

During a dry spell we walked down to the Co-op for a few bits, enough supplies to get us happily to the next big supermarket. We think the Co-op is new, quite well stocked, but there were a few things missing off our list so we then headed to Asda where the gaps were filled.

The cake shop’s still going, no Superman today though

Across the way from Asda is Hollins an independent DIY shop. I wondered if they might have a pump action spray bottle to use on the boat covers, not that we’ll have two dry days together before the end of the year now! Mick also suggested looking to see if they had a new chimney sweep brush.

I had a good look round, the shop is reminiscent of Clock Handyman in Scarborough and Turtles in Croydon, just about everything you might want for house, garden, kitchen all under one roof. It took me a while to walk round.

They had spray bottles and big 5 litre pump action bottles. Sadly we have nowhere to store such a big bottle and as it will only be used once a year it seemed a touch excessive. I’ll keep looking. They did however have a new sweeping brush and at £4 cheaper than Midland Chandlers a bargain. SOLD.

Why is there always one thing that gets missed when packing away my work stuff!

Back on board Oleanna we had a tidy around. Tilly seemed a touch unimpressed by the Great Wall of Marple, maybe it was too wet for the bird feeder at the top to be enticing to both her and birdies!

I chopped up onions, mushrooms and butternut squash and added tomatoes to make a veggie goulash and popped it ontop of the multifuel stove to slowly simmer away during the afternoon.

On Thursday I’d received a message from my old school friend Morag. She was planning a visit to York and wondered if she could invite herself to stay the night in Scarborough with us. She fortunately then went on to mention that she would then be heading to Manchester on Sunday. Of course we couldn’t put her up in the house, but we could on the boat. Early evening she arrived having walked up the hill and a little bit around the houses from the station to find us. She was a little bit soggy around the edges from also walking miles around York visiting old haunts and exploring parts of the University campus where she grew up.

An evening of catching up on the last two and a bit years. News of friends both near and far. Her job which two years ago she thought she’d not stick with, it’s improved with the help of remote working, although some of the people she works for leave a lot to be desired. Morag was one of the people I’d hoped to have been able to see when we were in London this summer, but we ran out of time after seeing family and cruising through London on the Thames. Thank goodness she’d mentioned her trip to Manchester.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 very wet day, 1 unimpressed cat, 10 litres oil, 5 antifreeze, 4 croissants, 4 crumpets, 1 sweeping brush, 1 best friend from school, 2.5 years to catch up on, 1 wonderful coincidence, 1 touch 2 much wine.

Not A Breach Update 4th October

This morning at 09:59 the following notice dropped into our inbox from C&RT, not much notice of the start of works!

Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line
Location: Low water levels at Goole
Starts At: New Goole Caisson
Ends At: New Goole Caisson

Monday 4 October 2021 10:00 until Wednesday 6 October 2021 09:00

Type: Advice
Reason: Information

Original message:

British Ports are undertaking emergency repair works to their lock gates.

We will have a reduced water level of 300mm for today and potentially tomorrow as the levels need to be dropped to allow the repair works to be carried out.

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/20747/low-water-levels-at-goole

Last year there were rumours that the lock gates out onto the River Ouse leaked quite badly, which didn’t help retain levels in the docks when the Caisson was closed. Well they leaked too until stop planks were put in behind them.

Presumably the stop planks have been dropped back in as the caisson gates open the wrong way to maintain levels upstream on the canal, or has the whole pound back to Pollington and Sykehouse Locks been dropped?

I’m hoping that people living on their boats in the marinas at Goole have had prior warning as the levels dropping by 300mm might feel a little bit like deja vu!

Updated Update

Update on 04/10/2021 at 15:30:

Associated British Ports have advised us that they have completed the emergency repair works and water levels are returning to normal.

Further works will be required in the future and we will advise of these works when we have more information.

Old Before Her Time. 1st October

Bancroft Bridge 8 to Marple Junction, well just about

Not far to go today, but would there be space. The traffic on the Macc may be a lot less than that on the Staff and Worcester and the Trent and Mersey at the moment but mooring spots can be full, especially when the weather isn’t too good.

We’d slept in, so we didn’t push off until gone 11am. A rather unpleasant aroma was wafting over the fields so we were glad to be moving on. Not quite a mile and a half to reach our destination.

A boat was just pulling into the first gap before Church Lane Bridge. We pulled into the other space, being very careful of our footing as we stepped off. These moorings became known to us as Dog Shit Alley as locals didn’t seem to tidy up after their hounds and autumn leaves tend to disguise the locations!

With the wind still being quite strong the other boat decided to see if there was a mooring through the bridge, there was along with another. We followed avoiding being under trees for the rest of the day and pulled in alongside Tilly’s Great Wall of Marple. Well today is her 6th birthday, so she needed a treat.

Our mooring with the wall Tilly scaled when she was a whippersnapper

This afternoon we left Tilly in charge, sunning herself in one of the windows. We walked down the locks which were locked. Opening times of the locks are the same as last year to help conserve levels on the summit, so the padlock had been on for a couple of hours already. When we reached lock 9 we veered away from the canal down the steep hill towards Marple Station.

Here two gate posts stand alongside a slightly wonky tall house. They looked like they should lead to a big house, but there seemed to be no sign of it. Brabyns Hall was actually set quite a distance from the road here, on the other side of the railway. Map link. I wondered about it as we walked down to the station, we bought a duo ticket into Manchester and walked over the bridge to the other platform.

There was a board telling us all about Miss Fanny Hudson a lady who helped shape Marple. On the day WW1 broke out Fanny announced that she would offer her home as a hospital, this was Brabyns Hall. Wounded soldiers returning from the Western Front were brought on hospital trains straight to Marple. By 1918 the number of wounded returning was escalating so Fanny Hudson arranged for Rose Hill House to open as an annex to the hospital.

In the 1940’s the house was passed onto the local authority, they had hoped to open it as a community centre but by 1952 it had deteriorated so much that it was demolished. Now it looks like the site of the house is just a car park, the gardeners cottage by the gates one of the last buildings to survive.

We took the train into Piccadilly, then got the free bus 2 over to Shudehill. Across the way is where we met the London Leckenbys who were in Manchester for a few days having a look round as a possible University City for Josh in years to come. They had had difficulty booking hotel rooms, we now know due to the Tory Party Conference, so had ended up with a serviced apartment for a couple of nights.

Manchester was humming as if there hadn’t been a pandemic so we decided on staying in for the evening. A big red fish Reg had been bought from the fish counter under the Arndale Centre which was accompanied by salads and roast potatoes. Then followed by my very chocolatey pudding with ice cream and raspberries, very rich and very nice. There was enough left over for us to bring back to the boat for tomorrow.

The return train journey was busy, a full train and only two people other than the guard wearing masks, us. The walk back up the hill to the boat earnt us another glass of wine, well we did have to celebrate Tilly’s birthday somehow. Just a shame we’d forgotten to feed her before we went out! The other day we’d stocked up with a box of her current favourite food, only to discover that it was actually old gits food, 7+! Well it turns out that she is really rather partial to senior food a year early! We keep trying to alternate between 1+ and 7+, the whippersnapper food gets ignored, but the old gits gets devoured, even the same flavours. Old before her time!

Happy Birthday my little thug xxx

0 locks, 1.32 miles, 2 moorings, 1 bit of creative mooring, 2 trains, 2 free buses, 3 London Leckenbys, 3 bottles wine, 1 re fish, 1 slab of chocolatiness, 1 hungry birthday girl, 1 very annoying barking woofer at midnight! 6 years going on 40.

https://goo.gl/maps/mzFAtybzv1Dv4RmE9

Flippers. 30th September

Clarence Mill to Bancroft Bridge 8

Damp and windy and cold. Padded waterproof trousers are back in fashion on NB Oleanna. The stove is lit and has been kept in over night for the last couple of days. If we didn’t have places to be we wouldn’t have moved today. Well that isn’t strictly true as we were moored under trees and with big winds that’s not such a good idea.

We pootled along under Sugar Lane Bridge that is a very skew. I checked that the Christmas tree near by hadn’t already got it’s Christmas hat on and I’m glad to report it hasn’t yet.

Along the straight from Bridge 24 to 21 I kept an eye out for the view of White Nancy, high above Bollington. Today she was hard to photograph as she melded into the grey white cloud. A local focal point and place of celebration for Bollington which on a clear day has fantastic views to the west, and to the east.

With the wind came the humming and whistling of power lines above. The fox gloves that last year filled wooded areas with purple of course are nowhere to be seen.

The occasional moving boat battled against the wind, at least we had it behind us for much of the morning. Speed helps you to keep on course in the wind, which was slightly alarming as we came through Bridge 20 where we could only manage to crawl due to depth as a zooming boat headed for us round a bend. They of course had to slow right down, we couldn’t get out of the way with any speed as we had none.

By Lyme View Marina the shiny side of NB Blanche glinted at us moored just off the end of the visitor moorings. NB Pukeko, a Narrowcraft boat sat on it’s moorings as did the boat at the end of the line with it’s 746 Ivory telephone.

On a little ledge near their bow an array of pots all surrounded with muscle shells. Are there muscles around here and if so, what creature likes to eat them?

At the aqueduct following Bridge 17 there was a long line of C&RT work boats. Today we’d seen patches of towpath reinforced with sandbags, but here there was far more than a patch. The whole bend is having sandbag reinforcing added.

At Higher Poynton we pulled in at the water point. A pair of flippers left alongside it, how random! The thought that someone had even considered snorkelling in the canal was mind boggling. We filled our tank, disposed of rubbish and looked over the bridge at the new Braidbar Boats all in grey awaiting fitout.

Mick gave Oleanna’s cabin side a hose down, our mooring last night had been a gritty one and with bouncing rain we’d got a good spattering from the towpath. Then we were on our way again.

Hello! One day we’ll get to meet your crew

A wave to NB Cleddau and NB Bethany May whom we’ve been leapfrogging for the last few days. I wonder what proportion of moored boats at Poynton were made by Braidbar?

Past The Cage at Lyme Park, the tractors and great collection of all sorts of things at Bridge 13. The chap here said ‘people just keep giving me stuff!’

Quick blast of reverse every now and again to clear your prop

Onwards though our first real leaf porridge of autumn.

We decided to stop before Marple, views through the hedge over towards Stockport and armco to tie to. No big trees to blow onto us and here would be a better place for Tilly. The morning was meant to have been a wet one, but the rain had held off until we were moored up, just in time for Tilly to enjoy!

This afternoon as well as getting more accurate prices for black flooring for #unit21 I also baked a rather chocolatey pudding for tomorrow. I’d not had a 9 inch round cake tin with a solid base, so reduced the quantities by a third and used a bread tin instead. I suspect the amount of chocolate, sugar, butter and eggs that went into it guarantee it to be very rich. So there should be enough for 5.

0 locks, 6.21 miles,1 gritty boat, 0 foxgloves, 1 white nancy, 0 hats, 2 flippers, 1 full water tank, 0 rubbish, 1 cleddau, 3 tractors, 52 horse shoes, 1 wizard, 4 chums, 16 or 18m? 1 very wet afternoon, 1 baked mass of chocolate.

https://goo.gl/maps/qGL19CvmLmQRfTft5

Recipe

Several people have asked me for the recipe for Apple Crumble Flapjack. We find it’s much easier to eat with a fork, but maybe that’s because I add quite a lot of apple. Enjoy!

Maybe I should add a page to the blog with recipes?!

She Swallowed A…. 29th September

Gurnett Aqueduct to Clarence Mill

I’m growing concerned for my safety.

The other day She was complaining that a fly had flown at speed into her mouth. Then a day or two later as She drank her cup of tea she suddenly spat it out, a large spider was lurking in the depths of her mug! So far I’ve not noticed any birds being consumed, but they may have chicken tonight. I’m keeping my distance, just in case.

If you don’t hear from me again I’ll have been sent in to sort things out!

Slow progress at times along the summit pound today. The levels have been down up here, but this morning it only looked to be an inch lower than the overflow at the aqueduct. At one point we were passing another boat to find both of us were sat on the bottom!

We pootled our way through Macclesfield, familiar local boats from our winter up here five years ago. Bridge 43 is another roving bridge with a high wall concealing an accommodation bridge nestled up alongside it.

The off side vegetation was getting a strim as we crossed above the houses. Then we hunkered down under the big wall that holds the top part of Macclesfield away from the canal.

The site where a culvert had problems a few months ago is only obvious now by the new mortar in amongst the stones of the canal bank, a new top to the dry stone wall and a large pile of aggregate hiding behind. The canal was closed for sometime earlier this year.

At least it hasn’t taken as long as the wall by Black Road Bridge. This used to hold someone’s garden up off the towpath and has gradually disintegrated through the years. At least this towpath closure is sturdier than the one in Wolverhampton that people just ignored.

Passed the Hovis Mill the 1 day moorings were just about full, we’ve very rarely seen boats moored here as it’s been hard to pull in and you are requested not to run your engine. The pontoon moorings were full, the end boat being NB Rosie out for a cruise from Teapot Hall.

As we pootled along we discussed a topic that people often ask. Which is your favourite canal? Well our favourite mooring is above Bank Newton Locks, the curley wurlys on the Leeds Liverpool. But is our favourite canal the Macc? A lovely flight of locks, little industry, great hills and views, a reliable coal boat to look after you, the beautiful bridges. It might just be our favourite.

A strange noise could be heard as we reached the far side of Macclesfield. Raaaag aaaandd Boooooonnne! As we moved round the tone of the call changed, Rag and Bone through a loud hailer was echoing around the streets.

Then Clark Lane Bridge curls the towpath back to the otherside, at Kerridge someone has built themselves a little porch.

Then as it started to rain a little bit more heavily we came round under Greens Bridge to the sight of the Adelphi Mill. Today lots of room on the visitor moorings, but we were after pulling in at Bollington Wharf, their service mooring empty.

A chap was having a couple of containers filled with red diesel and chatted to Ann Marie. Then it was our turn to fill up Oleanna’s tank, the price higher than we’d paid at Hawne Basin a few weeks ago, but that’s hardly surprising. This morning Bollington Wharf had had a delivery, the price per litre having risen by 8p. Last Saturday they’d had a bit of a rush on with four boats queued up for a top up. Brian arrived and sorted out five bags of coal for us, positioning them on our roof mats as low as he could get them. If you are ever on the Macc this is where to come for a top up of diesel or bits of work that need doing. Last year they mended a gas locker hinge for us whilst we waited. There is also NB Alton that does a fortnightly run along the summit pound, so they will come to you. They certainly looked after us the winter we were here.

The bright colours of the diesel pump and day boats cheered up a thoroughly wet day. Nice to have a catch up too.

We pushed off and now hoped for a space on the embankment by the aqueduct. This was chocka block, not even a nudge around would have made enough space for us. But luckily round the bend in the shadow of Clarence Mill the newish bollards were empty. We pulled up and claimed them.

Whilst finishing battening down the hatches for the day, an alarm sounded. Not the sound of Mick pressing the button to stop the engine, it was a different pitch. ‘That’s not meant to happen is it?’ ‘No’ The engine was over heating, just as well Mick was about to turn it off. This first happened on the Thames a couple of years ago, a loose pipe connecting the calorifier to the engine. It had come loose again , therefore there wasn’t enough water in the cooling system.

We managed a shopping trip down to the Co-op to stock up on chocolate between showers and then just left Tilly to explore the wet outside for the remainder of the afternoon. She did her best to get really quite soggy. I revisited the budget for #unit21, still need an updated price on a couple of things. News came through from Chippy that sight lines had been checked with a mock up of a tower made from cardboard and that my paint order had been placed. So at least I’ll have lots of lovely colours to play with.

Could this be our nosy neighbour from this evening?

Later in the afternoon Mick lifted the engine boards and sure enough the pipe was loose again. He checks this and tightens it on every service. The next service is due in 40 hours. So maybe an in between services check is required.

It turns out that there is at least one train driver who keeps a note of passing boaters in Stoke. Thank you Michael for your email. We’ll keep a beady eye open for you when we’re next on your patch and wave until you see us. Michael’s boat was one of those stuck in Goole this year, hope the move up the Ouse wasn’t too wet and windy for you today.

0 locks, 4.58 miles, 88 litres, 0 panic buying, 1 feline visitor twice, 2nd time being very nosy, 100kg coal, 530grams dark chocolate, 500grams granulated sugar, 1 rag and bone, 1 alarm, 1 loose pipe, 1 wet day.

https://goo.gl/maps/FSxo8jMVoL7MvKnU8

First But Forth. 28th September

Bosley Bottom Lock to Gurnett Aqueduct

With no other boats having arrived last night we didn’t feel under pressure to be at the locks waiting for them to open at 8:30 this morning. The alarm was set for 7 but then we had a fairly normal start to the day. This did however mean that we wouldn’t be first up the locks. Three boats came past, two before 8:30 and vanished up the bottom lock.

Yesterday afternoon Mick had walked up the flight and closed quite a few gates that had either blown open or been left, so we already knew the locks would be set against us.

Old trainers came out of the cupboard as rain and mud were a high possibility this morning. With the temperature being low we also risked our padded waterproof trousers, an intermediate waterproof covering for legs needs to be found for such days.

Last year we climbed the locks in a group. A single hander in front a boat mover single hander behind, all done in the sunshine a well oiled machine by the time we reached the top of the twelve locks. Today we were on our own with constant drizzle, but thankfully we still got the wonderful views.

Every now and then I could see someone ahead, were they coming down or going up? They were going up. The pounds between locks 10 and 12 were both very low, but with umph from the engine then neutral Mick managed to get Oleanna over the bottom cills. After about five locks we did encounter our first downhill boat, a single hander with a volunteer helping, apparently there were two more boats making their way down.

At lock 6 you get the great view to the Cloud, no pretty flowers today.

Looking up ahead to Lock 5 the lock seemed to be being emptied. Next time I looked I thought I could see the stern doors of a boat. Eer Hang on! How could that be? Mick gave me one of those looks! Next look up there was a boat heading towards us.

I zoomed in on my camera. I had been right that a boat was coming down and one was going up. The road bridge masking the fact that I was seeing two locks and not just one.

After all the rain yesterday and drizzle this morning I’d been expecting a muddy towpath. This must be where the aggregate is being used as a new surface covers part of the towpath. Quite a relief as in the past parts of it have been quite a boggy mess, today it was all dry underfoot.

We picked up a volunteer at Lock 3, he set the lock above and then waited for the next boat coming downhill, Lock 1 sat waiting for us with it’s gates open.

Plenty of volunteers on hand at the top, although they were all having a good chat. We disposed of rubbish as the last couple of feet filled the lock, then left it open for the fourth boat of the day to head down the flight.

Now on bridge duty with the key of power in hand I pushed the buttons at Royal Oak Swing Bridge.

Turned the key in the lock of Broadhurst Swing Bridge. Returned it. Then gradually turned it trying to lift the white handle to release the bridge with each fraction of a turn. Eventually I found the position it worked, the handle lifting easily, the bridge swinging effortlessly. When I pushed it back there was no need to turn the key to release it, it just came straight out.

Where to moor for the day, hopefully before the rain started in earnest. After Leek New Road Bridge the world opens out, hills as far as the eye can see. Even today in the drizzle they looked wonderful.

It was slow going, shallow in parts, especially where you didn’t expect it. At Gurnett Aqueduct we pulled in towards a space, but grounded as another boat came past also looking to moor up. It took quite a bit to push us off and then reverse with major umph. A second gap looked more appealing despite the mooring rings being in very unsuitable positions. Extra rope was required and a mooring spike driven in as far as the concrete trough would allow. This would do us for the day.

By the time we’d done all the chores Tilly was not impressed with the very VERY wet outside we’d managed to tie up today. The stove was stocked up with coal and this became a more attractive place to spend much of the afternoon.

Panto has most definitely woken up today. Emails zooming between Macclesfield, Bristol, Kent and Chipping Norton. Working speakers, cinema screens, sight lines, cloths which hopefully have finally been ordered today. Tilly of course decided that the outside wasn’t too bad after all, but returned frequently for ‘thank you for coming home’ Dreamies just as I’d got all my plans out on the table. Tracing paper isn’t too keen on muddy dripping wet cats!

12 locks, 5.05 miles, 1st in line, 4th up, 4 coming down, 2 hot legs, 2 low pounds, 2 swing bridges, 0 held up, 1 boat up near the hills, 1 damp day, 1 excessively wet afternoon, 2 crinkly paw prints, 1 flying cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/LfT5NY8XBcBbG1BK7

The C Word. 27th September

Hall Green Lock to Bosley Bottom Lock 12

No rush this morning, mainly because it was raining! We laid in bed with our Saturday newspaper as the temperature outside dropped, it was cold. Other boaters were out and about. We heard the click click click of the lock paddle gear being wound a few times. On one occasion this was soon followed by shouting, the sound of an engine that got closer far too quickly to be passing moored boats and the approach to a lock! We peeked out of the window to see a boat very close to us. Then the name came past as the chap at the helm carried on shouting to the boat that was leaving the lock to leave the gates open. It was the ramming boat from the Staffs and Worcester the other day. Inside Oleanna we both used the same expletive.

We pulled back and filled the water tank as the rain eased off and eventually the sun came out. Hooray! We have a schedule to keep to and need to do around 4 hours a day, come rain or shine, so it was better that it was shining.

Today we pootled onwards, the long pound all nine miles of it heading towards Bosley Locks. Currently there are time restrictions on the locks to help conserve water on the summit pound so we’d not be able to pass up the locks today. Our aim however was to moor on the River Dane Aqueduct so as to be ready for the flight in the morning.

With a zoom meeting arranged with the Production Manager of panto we needed to keep going and not stop for lunch, which suited Tilly better.

Soon we were going under the first of the lovely bridges. Oh those curves!

A first glimpse of Mow Cop, maybe next time we’ll actually walk up there if we can find enough puff.

Bridge 87 not only has the lovely curves, it also is built on a skew and for some reason the stonework seems to be more eroded than on other bridges. Maybe the stone came from a softer layer.

Ramsdell Hall and Tilly’s railings. We’d thought of carrying on to moor here yesterday, but chances were that it would have been full when we got here. Of course today it was far too early to stop at such a nice mooring.

The curvy bridges come thick and fast, all lined up, framing the view up the canal and themselves.

Billy Tights Bridge still makes us wonder how it got it’s name. He sounds like he should have been part of Mr Kites performing troop on Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band. PS this used to be a swing bridge.

Lamberts Lane Bridge 77 is the first snake/roving bridge. Not quite as pleasing as those in Macclesfield and Marple but a good preview of what’s to come. The great white wall of Congleton then shows it’s face opposite the visitor moorings.

Today a large bough of tree lay across the towpath and into the canal. Last nights wind must have brought this down. Already parts of it had been sawn up and stowed on the bows of surrounding boats. Thankfully it doesn’t look like anyone had been moored beneath it.

Over the aqueduct to bridge 76 another snake bridge, followed by a busy stretch of moorings below the pub. Bridges after bridges follow, criss crossing road and rail high above us.

A long straight stretches out in front. In the distance we could see a boat heading away from us, then one coming towards. The water point had a couple of work boats tied at the end, a large pile of dark aggregate looked like it was going to be loaded for towpath works.

We passed a boat with a snoozing cat in the cratch, could that have been Betty or Olga? Shame not to have seen Ben to say hello.

At Crossley Hall Farm, where the painted cow used to sit, I was glad to see NB Blanche on it’s mooring. Boatwif’s blog of a few days ago had suggested the boat no longer moored there, but they must have been out and about. A great shame the cow has gone though.

Coming towards us had been several boats over the last hour or so and we half expected there to be a few moored below the Bosley Flight. One boat faced away from the locks at the end of the moorings, the rest was empty. Just where to pull up? I suggested we should sit at the end nearest the locks, claiming pole position for the morning. The views still pretty good.

A while after we arrived the hire boat we’d followed through the tunnel yesterday arrived, shouting to make themselves heard over their engine. They were getting ready to climb the flight. Mick popped out to give them the bad news that the locks were closed. ‘WHAT!’ was the reply. He then mentioned it was to do with saving water and the lady calmed down a touch. They’d been wanting to reach Macclesfield before winding to return to Stone, if they waited till the morning for the locks they wouldn’t have enough time to get back to base. After a while they ascended the first lock winded and headed back towards Congleton a pint at the pub to console themselves.

Time to get ready for my zoom meeting, which got postponed by an hour. Mick made himself scarce as had Tilly so that there were no distractions. Finally I had a meeting that could/should have happened at least a month ago. Details of the set finally being discussed. Currently there is nowhere for me to do a weeks painting booked. One possible in a village nearer Banbury than Chipping Norton, ideal if the boat was on the South Oxford this year, but not so good when she’ll be much much further north.

If anyone knows of a dry, reasonably warm space with lights and water near Chipping Norton that I could use for a weeks painting from the 18th October, please shout out. I’m clean and tidy and would make you some sausage rolls as a thank you!

PS The C word today was Curve

0 locks, 8.78 miles, 44 bridges, 1 wet start, 1 dry day, 1 full water tank, 220 curves, 3.5 hours! 2 pounds low, 5 sets of gates closed, 4m or 4.15m? 4 or 5 D rings? 1 problematic sight line, 1st in line for the morning, 1st top bought, 0 other boats.

https://goo.gl/maps/nhhizBxX962sT8Py6

Old Friends. 26th September

Brook House Winding Hole to Hall Green Footbridge 93, Macclesfield Canal

With Harecastle Tunnel booked for this afternoon we didn’t want to be sat in queues at the locks into Stoke today, the alarm was set and we pushed off with our first cuppas in hand at 7:30am. Slowly and quietly past the other moored boats, a little glimpse of Barlaston Hall, we can still dream, and on past Wedgewood.

Trentham Lock was almost in our favour, we helped set it for the first boat soon to come towards us. Then we were on the long pound heading in towards Stoke.

I headed below to prepare breakfast, it being Sunday and an early start we deserved bacon butties, with a few mushrooms and ketchup.

The hot dog on legs and Shooting Range are still there. The wood clad boat now has weeds, maybe intentional, growing in it’s gutters (wonder if we’ve had a quote for the gutters in Scarborough yet?) and Shufflebottoms has had the bank side seriously cut back. Owls and Halloween graffiti have been added to the walls along with a lot of scrawl.

Stoke Bottom Lock soon came into view. This huge concrete structure kind of fits it’s surroundings of the A500 Queensway and the house alongside it, today only five vehicles parked in the drive and on the road. This lock and the next four are currently being locked up overnight as vandals have been emptying pounds. We arrived at 9:30 so this wasn’t a problem for us.

No train for us whilst in the lock today

A train sped past over Cockshute’s Lock just before we arrived. Boaters hope to get a photo of their boat in the lock as a train passes, I wonder if train drivers keep a tally of how many narrowboats they get to see here?

A couple of fishermen were set up on the towpath in the next pound, I got my first ‘Ay up Duck’ as I walked ahead to the next lock. Here the lock was half full, or half empty and the first downhill boat was approaching. I was there first so lifted the paddles to empty it. If I’d known that it was a single hander I’d most probably have filled it and helped lock them down. The lady was very chatty and said she was being followed by several boats, the first one being a hire boat that she’d had to go back and help as they were doing their best to adjust water levels with all four paddles open on the top lock.

Johnson’s Lock is just round a bend, so the line of sight from it isn’t good, the gates were just opening as I came into view, chance to holler up to leave the gates for us. Above the next boat sat waiting in the short pound, another single hander who’d come to help the hirers whilst he waited. All downhill boats today were heading back to moorings, their summer cruises coming to an end.

We rose as another boat descended Stoke Top Lock, then some do-ci-doing happened to move the three boats round each other and we were on our way up to the summit of the Trent and Mersey. As another boat was waiting to come down we didn’t get a chance to drop off rubbish at Etruria Junction bins and we didn’t fancy turning or backing down to them, so it could wait for the next ones.

The huge wasteland that has laid dormant for as long as we can remember is starting to show signs of redevelopment a new bridge crosses the canal to link it to east.

A group huddled around a large sign where the canal used to have an arm. Burslem Branch Canal used to head off here to the north, a trust was set up in 2011 with an aim of restoring and regenerating the branch.

A new footpath has been opened this year connecting the old port to Middleport and an artwork showing what the area was most probably like just before the branch breached in 1961 which saw it’s closure. So many bottle kilns.

Along the towpath is a long mural, the painters fuelled with oatcakes. It makes for a far jollier scene than the fence used to be.

Middleport Pottery stands bold and proud, showing buildings in the area just what they could become. We still haven’t visited, so it has been added to the ‘next time’ list. Stoke Boats had plenty of boats out on the hard, one looking like it needs quite a bit of tlc, another being jet washed to within an inch of it’s life.

Under Bridge 127A. Up ahead we could see a small flag fluttering on the stern of a boat, far smaller than we’d expected from a member of the Flag Bubble! There sat Barry by NB AreandAre and Sandra reading an information board. We’d known they’d be here and shouted out ‘Veg Box delivery!’ Last year in Lockdown 1 they were moored close to us at the bottom of Hurleston Locks, we became a little community on our ‘home’ moorings.

We pulled up in the next space, thankfully plenty available at this time of day. Chance for a catch up with them and get to meet one of their grandsons. Barry had his greeting cards on display for sale, so we bought a few and had a go at the raffle, winning another card. It was very good to see them again after their elongated trip to New Zealand last year.

We’d arrived in plenty of time for our next rendez vous. The well deck contents were stowed in the shower, strawberry plants popped on the roof. Gosh there’s a lot of space in there! Just before 2pm we walked back to say our farewells to NB AreandAre and to await our visitors, Bill and Lisa.

Lisa used to be a Stage Manager in Scarborough and Bill is an actor who has lived in our house much of this summer. They have recently moved to Stoke so it was an opportunity to meet up not to be missed.

We pushed off and headed onwards towards Harecastle Tunnel. At the moment you can just turn up in the morning and join the queue to go through, or you can book passage in the afternoon. We were joined by a hire boat and another behind, neither had booked but were added to our passage. We were given the safety briefing, nothing new from our last trip through, horn and light tested.

Life jackets were handed out and because Mick would be at the stern by himself we equipped ourselves with walkie talkies. A few years ago a tragic accident happened in the tunnel when the chap at the helm bumped his head on one of the tunnel profile changes and fell in. His wife was below and didn’t notice anything until the boat started to bump the sides. So it’s best to keep talking to each other to make sure you are there. We acknowledge each other, even when stood close at the stern, every 100m (this is also a bit of a joke between us pointing out the direction of the closest exit).

Bill, Lisa and I sat in the well deck and chatted our way through the tunnel, catching up on all sorts. After the third boat entered the tunnel the doors at the southern end were closed, the fans cranked up and the flow of cold air could be felt coming past us. Harecastle has no ventilation shafts so the air is moved using the fans.

Sitting the bow is a whole different experience from being at the stern. Having your head around about 4ft lower in the tunnel and not looking over the cabin top makes it seem cavernous. I was waiting for it to get really tight, it got a touch smaller, but never tight at the pointy end of Oleanna. Water Explorer has our passage through the tunnel at 45 minutes, not bad as we were following the hire boat, the chap at the helm not having done so for thirty years.

Popping out the northern portal we slowed whilst the hire boat worked out which way they were going. They wanted to go right, the lady kept pointing that way, but to do that you have to go left first. They turned and we followed only to come face to face with a boat wanting to exit the junction. Mick made sure he informed NB Bethany May who were following us from the tunnel as we apologised to the on coming boat.

The canal turned over the top of the Trent and Mersey and we managed to find space on the aqueduct for a cuppa. It had been lovely having Bill and Lisa with us for the trip, hopefully we’ll get to see them next time we come through the area.

They were given directions back to Kidsgrove Station via the Trent and Mersey canal. Our trip from Westport Lake had taken an hour and three quarters, journey back would take 15 minutes by rail replacement bus, plus the walk.

We decided to move on a touch further and get onto the Macclesfield Canal properly. On the next stretch of moorings there were a couple of familiar boats from Lockdown 1 and ‘Home’. The Pooh Boat with it’s toys in the windows and ducks on the roof, wonder if their dog still barks as they come in to moor each time? Then a touch further on was NB Plum, Solar Afloat who was one of the Flag Bubble with Barry and Sandra. Next door was The Toastie Boat who turned up to Hurleston at the end of our time there.

Onwards to Hall Green Lock, the stop lock between the Trent and Mersey and Macclesfield canals, all 1ft 3″ of it. We pulled in just past the water point and quickly got our Sunday dinner in the oven, roast chicken, Yum!

7 locks, 12.67 miles, 2 canals, 1.5 miles of tunnel, 1 straight, 1 left, 2 go right, 3 lockdown boats, 12 years, 4 cards, 2 SJT friends, 0 shore leave! 1 roast chicken, 1 long day, 1 lovely day.

https://goo.gl/maps/akC4JrQPvgcwJKBL8

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna

Consulting With The Tunnel. 4th October

Wotsit! And A Missed Decision, 3rd October

A New Sweep. 2nd October

Not A Breach Update 4th October

Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line
Location: Low water levels at Goole
Starts At: New Goole Caisson
Ends At: New Goole Caisson

Original message:

Update on 04/10/2021 at 15:30:

Old Before Her Time. 1st October

Flippers. 30th September

She Swallowed A…. 29th September

First But Forth. 28th September

The C Word. 27th September

Old Friends. 26th September

Aire & Calder Navigation Main LineLocation: Low water levels at GooleStarts At: New Goole CaissonEnds At: New Goole Caisson

Original message:

Update on 04/10/2021 at 15:30:

Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line
Location: Low water levels at Goole
Starts At: New Goole Caisson
Ends At: New Goole Caisson